Sakhekile Ndudula and his wife Bulelwa were heard arguing inside their Cambridge West house by neighbours five minutes before she allegedly shot him seven times.
This was the startling testimony given to the East London Magistrate’s Court yesterday by Captain Silumani Somkence, the lead investigating officer in the murder case at Bulelwa’s bail application.
Ndudula, the chief of staff in social development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi’s office, was shot dead on the morning of September 14 in what was initially thought to be a hit.
The State had opposed bail and called the investigating officer to the witness stand to testify.
“At the moment we think the motive of the murder was jealousy because the deceased was not sleeping at home,” said Somkence.
Presiding magistrate Nazeem Joemath inquired about the space of time between the argument and shooting to which Somkence responded: “The witnesses said they heard a loud bang five minutes after the argument followed by what sounded like gunshots.”
The court also heard the Ndudulas were sleeping in separate bedrooms and that the husband had stopped eating at home. He had told colleagues he feared being poisoned by his wife.
The court then dealt with three primary aspects of the case: contradictory statements Bulelwa gave on the morning of the murder; gun residue found on her right hand; and clothing and a manipulated crime scene.
Somkence said buttons from Ndudula’s shirt had been found in the main bedroom, indicating a struggle had taken place there, “between the deceased and (Bulelwa)”.
The accused had initially told them the shooting took place in the garage whereas police found two spent cartridges, a live round and a bullet hole in one of the rooms inside the house.
Bulelwa’s attorney Simphiwe Mbabane said his client gave the initial statement under duress at the Life St Dominic’s Hospital after she had been given medication to deal with the trauma.
Somkence said Bulelwa had tested positive for primary gun residue on her right hand and jacket.
Mbabane said his client could have come into contact with the gun residue while she was trying to save her husband’s life. However, Somkence said Bulelwa had not touched her husband. He had been carried by a security guard, a tenant and a friend of the tenant to a vehicle that took him to hospital.
Bulelwa did not take the stand. Instead her Mbabane read out an affidavit on her behalf.
In it she said she did not commit the crime she was accused of.
The 44-year-old woman also said her continued incarceration was jeopardising her livelihood as she would be fired from her job for absenteeism.
She said if she continued being imprisoned she would not be able to pay for her two children’s tuition fees and that would result in them dropping out. Her house also needed to be taken care of and she needed to prepare for the case.
Bulelwa said her release would not disturb public order and that she was also not a flight risk. She also has no previous convictions.
Somkence said should Bulelwa be granted bail she would interfere with the investigation.
“She has already manipulated the crime scene by wiping off the blood splatters from the floor and wall of the house,” he said.
Although the firearm was missing the State had a strong case against the accused, Somkence said.
The bail ruling was reserved for today.
Ndudula’s colleagues held a silent protest outside the court calling for the accused to be denied bail.